Berlin Lines

Berlin Lines translates the visual language of Berlin's underground network into a contemporary unisex sock design.

Pale green station tiles, parallel rail lines, platform lighting and the geometry of transit signage are reinterpreted through a clean graphic system designed to feel distinctive, wearable and product-focused.

Visual research into Berlin's U-Bahn established the foundation of the concept. Station tiles, transit lines, signage, platform lighting and repeated architectural details were studied as a graphic language of rhythm, structure and movement.

These recurring elements became the starting point for the sock's colour palette, linework and motif development.

The moodboard brings together Berlin U-Bahn architecture, tiled surfaces, transit lines, lighting and urban colour.

Rather than reproducing the underground literally, the visual references were distilled into a design language built around repetition, structure, muted greens, warm neutrals and graphic linework.

Early sketches explored how transit lines and oval light motifs could translate across the sock. Line weight, spacing and contrast were tested by hand before moving into digital development.

The design was developed in 3D to study proportion, placement and graphic scale on the sock form. The prototype helped refine the oval motifs and test how the parallel transit lines read around the ankle and foot.

The technical flat translates the design into clear outer and inner side views, defining graphic placement, colour breaks and key construction details.

Note: graphic elements are intended as knitted-in details, not surface print.

Three parallel lines reference railway tracks and the linear structure of Berlin's transit network. Oval motifs reference platform lighting, creating a repeated graphic system that carries from leg to foot.

Material exploration tested fine merino-rich blends, rib structures and jacquard possibilities across a wider colour range. The final direction was narrowed to Tile Green, Warm Cream and Charcoal for a quieter, more architectural result.

AI was used as a research and visualisation tool to generate early concept variations, typography studies and material mood explorations. Final design decisions, including motif placement, proportion and colour direction, were developed and refined through the design process.